Maurizio Sarri leaves Chelsea to take charge of Juventus

Maurizio Sarri left Chelsea on Sunday after one season to return to Italy to manage Juventus.

The former Napoli coach has joined Serie A champion Juventus on a three-year contract to replace Massimiliano Allegri.

The 60-year-old Sarri won the Europa League with Chelsea, beating Arsenal in his final game in charge last month, and he also led the team to third place in the Premier League.

“In talks we had following the Europa League final, Maurizio made it clear how strongly he desired to return to his native country, explaining that his reasons for wanting to return to work in Italy were significant,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said. “He also believed it important to be nearer his family, and for the well-being of his elderly parents he felt he needed to live closer to them at this point.

“Maurizio leaves Chelsea with thanks from us all for the work he and his assistants did during the season he spent as our head coach, and for winning the Europa League, guiding us to another cup final and a third-place finish in the Premier League.”

The move is likely to cause mixed reaction in Italy because of Sarri’s three-year spell at Napoli, during which he transformed the club into Juve’s main challenger for the Serie A title.

Allegri was in charge of Juventus for the last five seasons, winning the league every year as well as four Italian Cups.

He also led the team to two Champions League finals but Juventus appears frustrated by not being able to win the European trophy — especially after signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

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